Printing apparatus



June 11, 1929. G. A. MAYER PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 7 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 11, 1929.

G. A. MAYER PRINT ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. '7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet I 2 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES r 1,711,053 PATENT orrlce.

GEORGE A. MAYER, OI'LAKEWOOD, 01110, ASSIGHOB, BY 11m mums; To

UNITED AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTER COMPANY, OF

TION OF ILLINOIS.

CHICAGO, mu conclurnm'rme urnm'rus.

Application filed, October 7, 1925. Serial No. 81,027.

The purpose of this invention is to provide improved oflset'printing apparatus b means of which printing of a very higi quality may be produced on a continuous web of paper or other material and on a high production basis.

It is generally conceded that, when all conditions are favorable, the results obtained from the offset method of printingwherein the ink is transferred from the plate cylinder to the paper through the intervention of a rubber cylinder or so called blanket are much superior to those obtained from direct printingwherein the ink is impressed by the type directly upon the paper. However, considerable difficulty has been encountered in attempting to reduce the offset method to a thoroughly commercial basisthat is,-a basis of extensive production at reasonable cost.

Printing of a continuous web is one step toward extensive production; but the doing of this by the offset method and by means of prevailing apparatus, especially at high speed which is also essential to high production at low cost, causes undue strains to be imposed upon the rubber transfer cylinders resulting not only in possible injury to the cylinders but in the printing being distorted, smeared or thrown somewhat out of register in the case of multi-color work that is laid on the web by successive printing couples, as well as in the web of paper being displaced slightly from its normal course of travel.

111 the attainment of the purpose first above set forth, I provide ofiset printing apparatus that is characterized by means for supporting and positively feeding the web in a straight course between, and tangent to, the transfer and impression cylinders, and by mechanism for driving said means and said cylinders at the same surface speed so that no strain whatever is imposed upon the rubber blankets of the transfer and impression cylinders, and no strains are placed upon the web that would tend to deflect it from its normal course.

The invention is particularly adapted to the printing of manifold continuous forms wherein the sheets of the form are produced from laterally spaced sections of the web, separated from each other by longitudinal rows of perforations, because the perforating mechanism serves as. effective additional means for positively feeding the web and maintaining it in proper alignment, said mechanism, in this instance, being desirably placed as close as possible to the so-called out-feed rolls.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated conventionally in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a diagram representing a sectional View through apparatus incorporating the invention and Fig. 2 is a diagram representing a side elevational view, indicating the driving connections be tween the different rolls and cylinders.

Referring to the parts by reference characters, 1 and 2 denote transfer and impression cylinders of the kind known as rubber blankets. Each serves as an impression cylinder for'the other in that it supports the material that is to be printed in contact with the surface of the other, and they are transfer cylinders in that they convey the ink impressions from the plate cylinders to the receiving material. Associated with the cylinder I are plate cylinders 3 and 4; and associated with the cylinder 2 is a plate cylinder 5. Each of the plate cylinders 3, 4 and 5 is equipped with an inking device of usual construction designated 6, and with a dampening mechanism which may be proved type, designated 7.

Located as close as practicable to the point at which the web passes between the cylinders l and 2 are in-feeding rolls 10 and out feed rolls 11; and immediately above the outfced rolls 11 is perforating mechanism 12 that is used for perforating the web longitudinally in case manifold continuous forms are to be produced by the apparatus. Otherwise this mechanism may be thrown out of operation in accordance with the usual practice. The web of paper or other receiving material, designated 15, is drawn from a suitable supply (not shown) over a guide 16, through the in-feed rolls 10, between the transferand impression cylinders 1 and 2, between the out-feed rolls 11 and between the rotary elements of the perforating mechanism 12, over guides 17 and 18 to wherever it is desired to lead it, as to additional printing means, or to folding or rewinding apparatus (not shown).

Suitable means is provided in accordance with common practice for throwing the various cylinders out of contact, such being common to all offset printing presses and therefore regarded as unnecessary of illustration.

of any ap- Attention is called especially to the straight course of the web between themfeed and out-feed rolls which is responsible for the webs being held out of contact with either of the cylinders 1 and 2 excepting 1n the very restricted zone where the prlntlng occurs which amounts to little more than a line contact.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the driving connections between the various rolls and cylin- (lers, the gears connected to the respective rolls and cylinders being designated by the same reference numeral as is applied to such roll or cylinder, augmented by the exponent a. Meshing directly with and driven by the gear I of the transfer and impression c linder 1 are gears 2*, 3 and 4, and mes 1mg with the gear 2 is the gear 5 Thus the transfer and impression cylinders 1 and 2, and the plate cylinders 3, 4 and 5 are'pos1- tivcly driven at the same surface speed. The drive is communicated from the gear 2 to the gears 10 of the in-feed rolls 10, through an idler 20; and to the gears 11 of the outfeed rolls 11, from the gear 1, through an idler 21. The rolls of the perforating mechanism 12 are geared together through pinions 12, the lower of said pinions bein driven from one of the gears 11 throug an idler 22. The gear 1 is driven from a suitable source of power through a pinion 23.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the web is positiveiy fed from the in-feedrolls 10 to the out-feed rolls 11 between the cylinders 1 and 2 at a speed corresponding to the surface speed of said cylinders and independently of any propelling influence of the cylinders. Thus no strains are imposed upon the cylinders by the moving web, and, reversely. no strains can be imposed upon the web by the cylinders. The advantages of this arrangement have already been pointed out.

It is evident from the above description that, in the operation of the apparatus, ink is supplied to the plate cylinders 3, 4 and 5 by their respective inking device 6, the plates being prepared for the reception of the ink by the dampening mechanism 7, and that the ink that is impressed upon the rubber blanket of the cylinder 1 is transmitted to one side of the web, while that applied to the rubber blanket of cylinder 2 is transmitted to the opposite side of the web. By throwing out cylinder 5, or its inking device, cylinder 2 may be made to serve purely as an impression cylinder to support the web in contact with the cylinder 1. This is done when it is desired to print only on one side of the web. The plate cylinders 3 and 4 may 'be and preferably are supplied with different color inks, the design from one being impressed upon the blanket of c linder 1 in absolute register with the deslgn impressed by the other so that in the transferring of the accumulated effect to the web there is no possible chance of the colors being out of register.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In offset printing apparatus, the combination of a pair of opposed in-feed rolls and a pair of opposed perforating rolls. said pairs of rolls being spaced apart and between which a web of recelving material is adapted to be fed in a straight course, transfer and impression cylinders arranged to engage the opposite sides of the web between said pair of in-feed rolls and the pair of perforating rolls, a plate cylinder for cooperation with the transfer cylinder, inking and dampening mechanism for the plate cylinder, and positive driving connections between the opposed in-feed rolls, the opposed perforating rolls, and the transfer and impression cylinders whereby all of said elements are driven at the same speed with respect to the movement of the web.

2. In an offset printing apparatus, the combination of opposed infeed and outfeed rolls and perforating mechanism that are spaced apart and between which a web of receiving material is adapted to be fed in. a straight course, transfer and impression cylinders arranged to engage opposite sides of the web, a plate cylinder disposed in operative relation to said transfer cylinder, inking and dampening mechanism for said plate cylinder and positive driving connections between the transfer and impression cylinders, the infeed and outfeed rolls and the perforating mechanism whereby the same are driven at the same speed without imposing any strain upon'said web.

3. An offset printing apparatus comprising, in combination, opposed infeed and outfeed rolls and perforating mechanism and between which a web of receiving material is adapted to be fed in a straight course, transfer and impression cylinders arranged to engage opposite sides of the web, a plate cylinder disposed in operative relation to said transfer cylinder, inking and dampening mechanism for said plate cylinder and positive driving connections between the transfer and impression cylinders, the infeed rolls, and the perforating mechanism whereby the same may be driven at the same speed and without imposing undue strains upon said web.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE A. MAYER 

